Railway-switch.



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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

CHARLES B. BRINKER, OE WESTv LEBANON, INDIANA,"ASSICNOR To THE BRINKERSAFETY SWITCH ATTACHMENT COMPANY, OE WEST LEBANON, INDIANA, ACORPORATION OE INDIANA.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

No. 810,906. l

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1906.

Application iiled September 30, 1905. Serial No. 280,782.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES B. BRINKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at West Lebanonin the county of Warren and State of Indiana,have invented new and useful Improvements in Railway-Switches, of whichthe following' is a specification.

This invention relates to railway-switches, being especially directed tothe switch operating and locking mechanism, and has for its objects toproduce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this characterwherein the switch will be normally maintained in position for keepingthe main line open, one

in which the switch is manually operated for` closing the main line andopening the siding, and one wherein in the event of the switch beingleft in the latter position it will be automatically released andshifted to normal position through the medium of mechanism actuated byan approaching train.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a switch-operatingmechanism of this character including a sectional locking member or barfor locking the Switch in normal position, one wherein the sections ofthe latter will be automatically uncoupled when circumstances require,and as more fully hereinafter explained.

With these and other objects in View the invention comprises the novelfeatures of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafterdescribed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portionof the railwaytrack having my invention applied thereto and showing theparts in normal position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3is a similar view showing the sections of the locking-bar uncoupled.Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the switch-operatingmechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section, of thelocking-bar and illustrating the connection between the bar-sections.Fig. 6 is aview Similar to Fig. 5, showing a slightly-modified form ofcoupling and with the parts in normal position. Fig. 7 is a similar Viewshowing the bar-Sections uncoupled. Fig. 8 is a vertical transversesection through one of the rails and detectorbar, showing the manner ofmounting the latter upon the rail.

Referring to the drawings, 1 1l designate the main-line rails, sustainedby cross-ties 2 and equipped with movable switch-points 3,

controlling the passage of a train from the main line to a siding 4, thepoints 3 being I,connected by a bridle-bar 5, which projects beyond theinner main-line rail 1 and has its outer end connected through themedium of a link 6 with a manual switch-operating member or stand 7, bymeans of which the switches may be manually thrown to close the mainline and open the siding. The bridle-bar 5, which is provided at a pointadjacent the rail 1 with a socket 8, constituting a keeper, is actedupon by a normally contracted spring 9 to maintain the switches inposition with the main line open and siding closed.

Sustained at the outer face of the rail 1 by means of links 10 is adepressible detector member or bar 11, adapted to be maintained innormal position with its upper edge projecting slightly above the treadof the rail by means of `Springs 12, coiled upon guide-rods 13, iixed attheir lower ends to suitable bearing-lugs 14, provided on the rail andarranged to slide at their upper ends through perforated lugs 15, formedon the bar 11, it being noted in this connection that when the bar isdepressed it moves forwardly and downwardly against the action of theSprings 12.

Sustained at the outer face of the bar 11 in suitable bearings 16,attached to the rail 1, is a longitudinally-movable locking member orrod 17, which included a rear independentlymovable section 18, providedat its forward end with a reduced portion or tongue 19, in turn providedwith an opening or keeper 20, and adapted to normally project through aslot 21 into a coupling member or box 22, fixed upon the rear end of thelocking-rod 17 and having a longitudinal opening or slot 23. Pivotallymounted in the box 22 and within the slot 23 is a locking member orlever 24, of substantially L shape, provided at its free end with anengaging portion or linger 25, designed to engage through the opening20, said lever being connected by means of a link 26 with alongitudinally-movable actuating member or lever 27, in turn pivoted atits rear end, as at 28, to the rod-section 18 and at its forward end toa bell-crank lever 29, pivoted at its elbow in a suitable'bearing 30,ixed to the rail, and having its other arm connected by means of a link31 with the detector-bar 11. The pivoting member or pintle 28, whichextends transversely through the rod-section 18, is arranged to work ina slot 32, formed in the actuating-lever 27 while the pintle 33, whichIOO connects the link 26 with the actuating-lever 27, is arranged towork in a slot 34, formed in a projection 35 on the locking-rod 17.

Pivoted at the side of the rail 1 in rear of the locking-rod 17 is adepressible track-lever 36, connected at its forward end by means oflink 37 with one arm of a bell-crank lever 38, in turn pivoted to one ofthe ties and having its other arm pivotally connected with the rear endof the locking-rod section 18, on which is arranged an expansible spring39, having bearing at one end against the adjacent bearing member 16 andat its other end against a xed collar 40 on said section, said springtending to move the section forwardly, while arranged on the locking-rod17 at a point adjacent its forward end is an eXpansible spring 41disposed between the adjacent bearing 16 and a y xed collar 42 on therod and tending to move the latter to locking position.

Fixed to the rod 17 at a point adjacent its forward end is a lug orprojection 43, adapted for engagement by the arm 44 of a lever 45,.

adapted for operation to move the rod 17 manually to unlocking position,the lever 45 being provided with a weight 46, by which it is maintainedin normal position.

In practice when the switch-points are in normal position and the mainline opened the socket or keeper 8 is in non-alinement with the end ofthe rod 17, under which conditions the track-lever 36 and detector-bar`11 are positively maintained in depressed condition, whereby trains maypass over the rails without contacting with said parts, thus relievingthe latter and the mechanism of unnecessary wear. When it is desired toopen the siding 4, the switch-points 3 are thrown manually through themedium of the operating member 7, the spring 9 being at the same timeexpanded and the rod 17 moved into locking engagement with the keeper 8,through the medium of the spring 41, the forward movement of therodunder the action of the spring serving to elevate the track-lever 36above the rail. After the train has passed into the siding it is theduty of the operator to operate the lever 45 for moving the bar 17 toreleasing position and permitting the switch-points to be returned tonormal position by the actionof spring 9. Should, however, the parts beleft in condition with the siding open, a train approaching on the mainline depresses the lever 36, which in turn acts through the medium ofthe bellcrank 38 for imparting rearward movement to the locking member17, thus to release the bridle-bar 5 and permit the spring 9 to move theswitch-points to normal position with the main line open. As soon as thelever 36 has been operated to move the lockingbar the wheels of the rstcar or engine pass onto and depress the detector-bar 11, which in itsmovement rocks the bell-crank lever 29 and imparts a rearward movementto the actuating member or lever 27. The lever 27 in turn acts upon thelink 26 for moving the locking-lever 24 out' of engagement with the'tongue 19 to uncouple the section 18 from the lockingrod, whereupon acontinued movement of the actuating member 27 under the'action of thedetector-bar 11 moves the section 18 rearward and depresses the lever36, at the same time compressing spring 39, it being noted that thelever 36 will be main- 'tained invdepressed condition, thus obviatingcontact with the wheels of the remaining cars ofthe train and obviatingpounding of the lever by the wheels. As soon as the train has passedfrom over the detector-bar 1l the latter is returned to normal positionthrough the medium of springs 12, and thus operates the actuating member27 and its adjacent mechanism for returning the section 18 to normalposition and moving the locking-lever 24 into coupling engagement withthe section. It is to be observed that owing to the provision of theslots 32 and 34 the actuating-lever 27 will have an initial movementsufcient to operate the locking member 24 prior to movement of thesection 18 for de-v pressing the lever 36.

Disposed at a point in rear of the track-lever l36 is asemaphore 47,operatively connected by a link 48 with a bell-crank lever 49, in turnconnected by a rod 50 with a lever 51, engaged with the rod-Section 18,the arrangement of the parts being such that whenthe rod 17 is movedforwardly into locking engagement with the bridle-bar 5 for holding theswitches in shifted condition with the siding 3 open the semaphore willbe turned i-n danger position, it being understood that when the partsare in normal condition with the main line open the semaphore stands innon-danger position. In Figs. 6 and 7 there is illustrated a slightmodification in which the rod 17 and its movable section 18 have theirmeeting terminals correspondingly beveled and adapted to overlap, therebeing carried by the locking member 24', which is in the form of abell-crank lever pivoted in a collar 52, fixed on the section 18, arelatively movable engaging portion or link 53, designed to projectthrough an opening 25, formed in the tongue of the section 18, andengage a notch or recess 54, provided in the tongue of the locking-rod17, while formed on the collar 52, which normallyT embraces theoverlapping portions of the rod and section 18, is a forward extension55, designed to bear at a point beneath the link 53 when the parts arein normal coupled position. In other respects the construction andoperation of the mechanism is identical with that above described. p

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple deviceadmirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view, it beingunderstood that in attaining these ends TIO minor changes in the detailsherein set forth 4. In a device of the class described, a mov- 35 may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

vHaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. Ina device of the class described, a movable switch, means for, shiftingthe same, a member for locking the switch in shifted position, saidmember including a relatively movable section, means for coupling saidsection to the locking member, a track device connected with thesection, and automaticallyoperable means for uncoupling the member andsection at determined intervals.

2. In a device of the class described, a movable switch, means forshifting the same, a locking member for maintaining the switch inshifted position, said member including a relatively movable section, atrack-lever operatively connected with said section, a pivoted memberfor coupling the locking member and section, and means for operating thecoupling member to couple and uncouple said parts at determinedintervals.

3.' In a device of the class described, a movable switch, means forshifting the same, a longitudinally-movable locking-rod for maintainingtlie switch in shifted position, said rod including a relatively movablesection, a pivoted locking member for coupling the rod and section, atrack device connected with the section, and means for operating thepivoted locking member to uncouple the section and rod at determinedintervals.

able switch, means for shifting the same, a longitudinally-movablelocking-rod for maintaining the switch in shifted position, said rodincluding a relatively movable section, a pivoted locking memberdesigned for coupling the rod and section, a track device connected withthe section and operable for actuating the rod, and means for operatingthe pivoted locking member to uncouple the rod and section at determinedintervals.

5. Ina device of the class described, a movable switch, means forshifting the same, a longitudinally-movable locking-rod for maintainingthe switch in shifted position, said rod including a relatively movablesection, a pivoted locking member designed for coupling the rod andsection, a track device connected with the section and operable foractuating the rod, a depressible detector-bar, and an actuating-leverconnected with the bar and having connection with the pivoted lockingmember and section, said actuating member being adapted when the bar isdepressed to operate the pivoted locking member for uncoupling thesection and for moving the latter rearwardly to depress the trackdevice.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence-of two witnesses.

CHARLES B. BRINKER.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. FLETCHER, IRvINe J. KING.

